Yael Bar-Peled, a second-year student in the UAB M.S. in Genetic Counseling program is one of only 12 in the U.S. to receive the Association for Schools of Allied Health Professions (ASAHP) Scholarship of Excellence. The annual scholarship recognizes students in health professions who are achieving excellence in their academic programs and have significant potential to assume future leadership roles in healthcare.

“I greatly appreciate our Program Director Lynn Holt’s and Dean Andrew Butler’s support of me to represent the genetic counselor profession - an incredible group of people whose ever-expanding knowledge in genetics and counseling skills along with compassion help families in their diagnostic odysseys. It is truly an honor to have been nationally nominated, let alone receive the ASAHP Scholarship,” said Bar-Peled.

Lynn Holt, MS, CGC, program director of the UAB MSGC program says Bar-Peled has demonstrated her abilities as a leader and a scholar, especially in the development of her graduate project titled, “Assessment of Pharmacogenomics Understanding in Caregivers of Individuals with Prader Willi Syndrome.”

“Yael has utilized her strong work ethic, knowledge of genetics and genomics, and communication skills to make significant progress towards the implementation of this project,” said Holt. “She has a strong desire to be a leader within the field of genetic counseling and she has the potential to be an advocate for the field in the future and the patients she serves.”

Before attending UAB, Bar-Peled was a laboratory manager with research focused on vaccine development in respiratory viruses, which are often fatal in immunocompromised individuals. As an undergraduate, she earned her B.S. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from the University of Georgia.

The ASAHP Scholarship of Excellence Award is bestowed on outstanding individuals who are chosen by a committee of ASAHP Past Presidents and Board Members. Bar-Peled will receive a $1,000 check and a certificate for the honor.

“I believe these scholarship awards are a testament to the unparalleled quality of health sciences and health professions instruction provided by ASAHP’s member institutions,” said ASAHP President Deb Larsen PhD, FASAHP.  “I offer a hearty congratulations to each of these dedicated recipients who will become our future healthcare leaders.”

Bar-Peled is the second student from the UAB School of Health Professions to earn this scholarship. Lamario Williams, an alumnus of our B.S. in Biomedical Sciences program, was awarded the ASAHP scholarship in 2016. Bar-Peled and the other recipients will be recognized at the 2022 ASAHP Annual Conference held October 19-21 in Southern California.